The Millwall fan - who is in his late 50s and has never been able to attend a match because of his agoraphobia - is worth about £400,000. However, he requires 24-hour care and lacks the mental capacity to make decisions about money, a court has heard.

Both the preacher - a former nurse who describes herself as a “Prophetess/Apostle” - and the pensioner, a distant cousin, asked to be appointed as the man’s “deputy for property and affairs”.

A judge has ruled in favour of the pensioner following a hearing in the Court of Protection - which analyses issues relating to sick and vulnerable people.

Judge Denzil Lush said the pensioner had previous managerial and financial experience.

And he said preacher’s “spiritual gifts” would be “better deployed” in prayer.

The judge has not identified anyone in a written ruling published after the hearing in London.

However, he said the man and the preacher lived in south-east London and pensioner in Ipswich.